The Delta independent., 1887-06-28
The Old Sleigh.
"Liaabeth!"
sCo~~:~- -

PAuP Y, "hieo oSS thao Wouiu Wv Shcois
to any queen of the poultry yard:
"Well, alters said that bgn was
thankful for past mercies, though your
father would laugh every time said SO.
Liddy Steven has jest been here; she
wanted to 500 you. but you was gone
50 long ! thought you must be down to
Mis- Pennell's."
-'Yes, met her as she came through
the yard"
''She didn't tell you the news, did
shep"
''she told me viii Marston had re-
turned from California"
'It does beat all bout that boy
seems jest like the piece O. poetry you
read sometimes about the feller that
went of and stayed SO many years
and then como back and took his
mother out o. the the poor -house-only
it's the father this time. The very
worst Of the deacon's SIX it called
him. and that's jest what VIII was
then. never believed he had any
thing to do with that scrape down to
the village. Liddy saws he's terribly
rich. and is going to take care of his
father; the deacon must be glad. for
guess he's stared with Caleb most as
long as he can comfortably. They say
he's going to marry Sam Miller's
darter Ruth. You SEQ VIII en- Bob Mil
ler went out there for his health Will
found him out and done little kind
nesses for him. and when he was too
sick to write home Will wrote for him.
Part o the time Sam was sick h;sselE
SO Ruth answered the letters. and he
fell in love with her in that way. There
Millers know he was com ng. Sam
drove down % the depot and carried
him up to Caleb's. Guess they
was some surprised 10 see him."
There is no knowing how long Mrs.
Allen would have gone on. her tongue
keeping time to the busy click-clack of
her needles, had not Mr.. Aliens step,
sounded on the walk.
elizabeth never talked much. and the
mother did not mind her lence to-
night Aslght quiver about the sem
snt.ve mouth alone told how keenly the
words were felt. and the sigh of relief
which escabed at the welcom. sound of
her fathers voice was lost in the noise |
made IA he entered. stamping the snow
from his boots.
''Why. father. does It snowp I ben
SO busy talking I haint thought to look
ont of the window for some me-"
Eyes. IT'S begun to come down right
smart; shouldn't wonder if 1t was good
sleiehing by omorrow."
''You don't think it's going to b .
-iepg storplrs-
Mrs. Aliens face had an anxious ex-
preston as she asked the question. for
long storm meant days Of exile for
her.
mo. sh'll be surprised if it don't
clear up by tomorrow noon-so's Liz
abeth and can take rde to the vii
lagc; that'll be treat won't it dar-
terp" and the smile that lighted up his
daughters face pleased him better than
any answer could have done.
Guess I'll get the old sleigh out. Ben
Smart ben down to the city. and he
says he saw lots jest like it; it's tive
years since sent Jim to the village
for the new one, and IT'S never been
out since. I'm glad it's coming into
fashion again, for never enjoyed my
self complete in the new one-always
felt little above my station" and
Farmer Aliens laugh rang through tho
sitting-room at the fitness of his re-
mark.
"Well, 'Lizabeth, you get supper on
the table, and I'll tell father the news
while he warns his feet. He's ben
down to the wood lot all the afternoon
and hain't heard nothing OF the strange
things that has been happening up
here"
Having arranged things to her salts
faction, the stocking Mrs. Allen had
dropped on the enterance Of her hus-
band continued to grow under her deft
fingers, while the news lost none of its
interest witl repetition.
sYhat light. after 'Lisabeth had taken
shsr candle and said. good ght. Mr..
Allen sat for some time looking ut the
fire, then suddenly broke out:
..Mether. don't you think 'Lizabeth
looks kind O. peaked latelyp Then she
don't seem to eat rs much as usual.
'sThere. father, you're always fret
ting bout that girl. don't know
what you'd done II you'd had six like
your brother Jonathan"
II didn't know but the news about
Will might affect her some. You know
they used to think SO much Of each
other"
..Massy, father! that was years and
years ago. when they were children.
'Lisabeth's too sensible girl to let
Teller like Will Mnrston disturb her.
When he stopped writ ng to her. she
gave him mp. She's worked hard to-
day. and good nights rest vii bring
her round"
There seemed nothing moro to be
said, so he took ght and proceeded
to make everything safe for the night
but long after his good wife was asleep,